The revelations by Henry Tang Ying-yen about having strayed in his love life have drawn attention away from the appointment of his successor as chief secretary. But the selection of Stephen Lam Sui-lung has been controversial, given his low popularity in the opinion polls. The veteran civil servant's first challenge in his new role will be to win over the public.
There are only nine months to go before a new chief executive takes over, so Lam's time as chief secretary may be short. But this is an important position, playing a crucial role in leading the governing team. The public disquiet expressed over Lam's appointment - with a protest due to take place tomorrow - is not encouraging.
Nor is it surprising. The former constitutional and mainland affairs chief has consistently been rated the most unpopular minister in opinion surveys. His working relationship with the pan-democratic camp is also known to be one of the worst among the team. Recently, his approval ratings plunged to a new low when tens of thousands of people protested against his plan to scrap Legislative Council by-elections; forcing the government to make a U-turn and launch a fresh public consultation with more options. Some have even seen the appointment as a sign that Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen no longer cares what the community thinks.
Tsang has pointed out that popularity is not the only consideration when making such a decision. Lam has a long record of public service. He is experienced and regarded as loyal. Announcing the reshuffle triggered by Tang's resignation in preparation for the chief executive race, Tsang attributed Lam's flagging popularity to the contentious issues he had handled over the years. The minister's constitution and mainland affairs policy portfolios certainly involved dealing with sensitive issues. Ministers, Tsang said, can either steer clear of controversy to stay popular; or brave the challenges 'for the love of Hong Kong'. He said he was impressed by Lam's co-ordination skills and political experience. Being the second most senior in the team with 33 years of public service, Lam is arguably the best candidate available.
Only time can tell if the appointment is the right one. But the challenge before Lam is immediate. Having won the trust of Beijing, he now has to win the trust of the Hong Kong public and prove to the sceptics that he is capable. The task ahead is a difficult one. As head of the machinery of government, the chief secretary has to co-ordinate different policy bureaus and serve as the acting chief executive when necessary. He should be able to command the respect and support of the community. Above all, he needs to instil confidence in better governance. Lam should seize the opportunity to reach out to different sectors in the community and improve confidence in his abilities.